Socialism (slayed) Flashcards
1
Q
fundamentally what is socialism compared to to other ideologies
A
- opposition to capitalism
- a more humane alternative
- focus on collectivism rather than individualism
- co-operation> competition
- focus on social equality
- minimise the class division
2
Q
what are the two starnds of socialism
A
- revolutionary socialism and evolutionary socialism
3
Q
define revolutionary socialism
A
- socialist values cannot co-exist within capitalism and tnerefore a revolution is necessary to trnasofrm society and the economy
4
Q
define evolutionary socialism
A
- gradual change within the pre-existing parliamentary structure
5
Q
what are the three types of evolutionary socialism
A
- democratic socialism
- social democracy
- “third way”
6
Q
what is historical materialism
A
economic conflict is the catalyst for social development and chnaging events
7
Q
what is meant by the term “dialectic”
A
clash of ideas cause a shift to the next part of hsitory
8
Q
what is “class consciousness”
A
the idea that the working masses are awake and aware of the exploitation in the world
9
Q
what did marx say about modern work and how it made us feel
A
- alienated
- we cannot see ourselves in the work that we create
10
Q
how did marx describe modern work as being
A
- insecure
- we are utterly indespensable
11
Q
what does marx say that capitalism forces us to put in our hearts
A
- economic intrests
- leads to commodity fetishism
12
Q
how did rosa luxembrug disagree with marx on hitorical materialism
A
- she argued that less economically devleoped countires could have a communist revolution
- it would come about from workers developing a class consciousness which would radacalise them into revolution
13
Q
how did lenin belive a revoltuion would come about
A
- not after capitalism necessarily
- from a revoltuinary elite
- that would overthrow the existing regime
- this idea of CENTRALISM
14
Q
how did luxemberg disagree with lenin
A
- centralism would lead to a communist dictatroship
- leading to an “absolute dividng wall”
15
Q
what did lenin call his revolutionary elite
A
- vanguard
16
Q
why did luxemburg belive that evolutionary socialism was not possible
A
- because captitalism is based on economic exploitation
-meaning socialist parties would lose sense of purpose and the revolutionary instincts of the working class would be dampened
17
Q
what kind of socialist was rosa luxembrug
A
- a revolutionary socialist
18
Q
what is another reason that luxmeburg was against evolutionary socialism
A
-as the contradcitions of capitalism would never be smoothed away meaning that collapse would become inevitable
- as it would run out of people and places to exploit
19
Q
what kind of socialist was beatrice webb
A
- evolutionary socialist
- her idea is termed “democratic socialism”
20
Q
put simply what is democratic socialism
A
- the idea that capitalism can be gradually reformed via parliament to achieve a socialt state
- “inevitablity of gradualism”
21
Q
why was Webb against revoltuions
A
- because they are “chaotic, inefficient and counterproductive”
- “guilty of the same besetting capitialism- unpredictability”
22
Q
what is the “inevitability of gradualism”
A
- we would keep electing socilait parties
- these woudl then transform society
- by gradually replacing a society based on private ownership with on based on common ownership and public control
23
Q
why did webb belive that democracy would lead to socialism
A
- democracy works in the interest of the working class majority
24
Q
put simply what is democratic socliams
A
“overthrow capitalism via the ballot box”
25
what does social democracy argue about capitalism
- that it should be reformed rather than replaced
26
what did crossland think about nationalisation
- that these high levels of collectivism threatened individual freedoms
27
what are the three key ideas of social democracy
- the mixed economy
- state managment
- the welfare state
28
what is a mixed economy
- blend of free market capitalism and nationalised companies
29
what is social democracies idea of "state management"
- facilitatin the mixed economy by state management
- full employment
- incorperating the ideas of keynes
30
why did social democracy emphaiszie the need of a welfare state
- once capiatism was suitably formed the state would be able to fund a welfare state that promotes social justice and equality of oppurtunity
31
what kind of socialist was Crosland
- evolutionary socialist
- social democracy
32
what did crosland think the issue of social injustice was
- differences of status and outcome that disfigure society
33
how does social democracy aim to prevent and resolve injustices
- using the wealth created by the free-market to ensure that proceeds were more fairly distributed accross society
34
what did crosland say that a fully socialist state
- " a dull functional nightmare"
- due to excessive manipulation
35
what did croland want to do to capitalism in comparison to giddons
- crosland= managing capitalism
- giddons= embrace capitalism
36
which branch of socialism is the most "revisionist"
- democratic socialism
- social democracy
37
what does social democracy combine
economic efficiency and egelatrain social justice
38
what kind of socialsit was anthony giddens
- evolutionary
- thrid way (new labour)
- not really a socialist
39
what is thrid way also refered to as
neo-revisionism
40
what are the three key features of the third way
- recogntion of the free market over state planning
- embracing the ideas of a competitive state
- moral responsibility and social inclusion
41
what was the third ways attitude to welfarism
- hand up not a hand out
- also feared a dependcy culture
42
thrid way taxes vs social democracy
- third way = low taxation
- social democracry= high taxation
43
what does thrid way think that the role of the state is
promote investemnet in edcuation and infrstructure
- build a "social capital"
- PFI
44
what did peter mandelson
" we are intensely relaxed about people geting filthy stinking rich.... just as long as they pay their taxes"
45
which branch of socialism wants the smallest state
thrid way socialism
- rejection of state intervention
46
define commun humantiy
- humans are social creatures with a tendency towards cooperation, socialbiity and rationality
47
define social class
- - a group of people in society who have the same socioeconomic status
48
define workers control
- the importance of the extent of control over the economy and/or state and how it is to be achieved
49
what do most socialist say about human nature
- optimistic
- humans naturally prefer to cooperate with rather than compete against eachother
50
what do socialists think capitalism does to human nature
- capitalist economy is wasteful and promotes social divisions and generate conflicct
51
marxon common humanity
- we are "deformed" by capitalism
52
webb on common humanity
- need a community to overthrow capitalism at the ballot box
53
why do socialist belive in collectivism
- humans can achieve objectives more effecivly through collective action than through individual efforts
- society can only be trasnformed collective endaveour
54
why do socialists think that humans want to cooperatre
- fraternity
- comradeship and common outlookwh
55
what do socialists think that human nature is moulded by
- social conditions
56
what is meant by the term fraternity
- a "brotherhood"
57
what does the socialist belief in collectivism mean for their vewi of the state
- a big state
58
what did marx think of collectivism
- loved it
- all workforces would collectivly own all industry and agenicies of society would be communal
- e.g . the soviet union
59
where the third way even reallly collectivist
- the neo-liberal ideologies mean they are actually more individualistically driven
60
what did marx and engles think about workers control
- would be a short period of workers control = DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT
- then in communism it would no longer be necessary
61
what did marx term the short period of workers control
- dictatorship of the proletariat
62
what did webb think about workers control
- that workers are incapable of such responsibility
- instead we wil be led by a "proffessional expert"
63
what was social democracys attitude to worleers control
dont support it s they are comfrotable with a mixed economy and think that we can make capitalism work
64
what did the third way think about workers control
- impraticble
65
what is a modern example of workers control
- codetermination in germany
- companies with 2,000 employees must be given a chance to be elected onto the supervisory board
66
why may workers control be problamatic
- would cut working hours
- workers would demand more
- without a management, responsibilty is diluted
UTOPIAN IDEA
67
what has helped cause class dealignemnt
- deindustrialisation in britain
- downfall of facotry and mine workers and an increase in offfice jobs
68
why is social class so important for revolutionary socialists like marx
- it is the working class who are the masses
- they are repsonsible for this transformation of society in some sense
69
what was marx's plan for social class
- get ridd of it through a revolution
- the state under capitalism reinforced a parasitic relationship between the bourgeoiie and the prolatariet
70
what was Webb's attitude to social class
- wouldnt get rid of it completely rather she just wanted to make the gap between classes much narrower
71
how did crosland see class
- less of a class war
-more of a fairer distribution
- focus on equality of oppurtunity thorugh comprehensive education
72
what are the 4 types of equality
- equality of oppurtunity
- absolute eqaulity
- equality of welfare
- equality of outcome
73
define equality of oppurtunity
- indivduals are entitled to equal chancs to make the best of their abilities, there should be no barriers to the progress of an idividual group
74
what are the three things that socialists agree on in regards to equality
- foundational equality
- rejeection of natural hierarchys
- equality of oppurtunity
75
what do revolutionary socialist think of equality of oppurtunity
- can only be acheived in communism as capitalism is so corrput
76
what does webb think about equality of opurtunity
- we first need to reform capitalism by the ballot box
- similar to marx in that in contempoary society now such ideas are not plausible
77
social democrats on equality of oppurtunity
- to aheive it we must break down class barriers
- do this through progressive taxation adn an even distrubition of wealht via a exoanisve welfare state
- and COMPREHENSIVe eDUCATION
78
what did giddens think about equliaty of oppurtiunity
- it need to targert the neediest in society
79
what is meant by the term absolute equality
- all individuals should recieve the same rewards as long as they contribute to the best of their ability
80
what socialists supported absolute equlaity
- revolutinaries
- through the nationalistaion of everything and the abolition of private property their would be a fair distribution
- no more social or economic inequalities
81
what is common ownership
-the means of production are owned by the workers so that all are able to particpate in its running and to benefit the wealth of society
82
what socialists where against common ownership and why
- webb still envisaged a gap just a smaller one
- crosland wanted a meritocracy and thought full nationalistaion would lead to a dull colourless life
- giddens thought that inequality was a natural consequence of society
83
define equality of outcome
- economic rewards should be distributed to the value of an individuals contribution
84
give a modern exmaple of equality of outcome
- postive discrimination
- contextual university offers
85
what socialist favours equality of outcome
- webb
- as she wanted a gradual incrimental process to close the gap in society
86
why do other socialists not like equality of outcome
- marx= not enough we need absolute
- croslnad= meritocracy we need an incentive to work and to be better
- giddens= feared a dependency culture, focus on individual effort
87
deifne equality of welfare
- society is inevitably uneqaul
- but everyone should be entitled to an equal minimal standard of living
88
what socilaits supported equality of welfare
- webb= minimises the gap and we can achieve it trhough mass nationalistaion
- crosland= state is a neutral force that we can use to help widen oppurtunities
89
what socialists opposed equality of welfare
- marx= we need absolute
- giddens - welfare should be a hand up not a hand out and should only apply to the neediest (feared a dependency culture)
90
who impacted alot of webb's ideas
- william bevridge and the bevridge report
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